Heat Get Rid Of Unwanted Quinn... Arroyo Is Next

The Miami HEAT have traded 3-year veteran Chris Quinn, cash, and a 2010 second-round pick to the Nets in exchange for a protected 2010 second-round pick.

With the vacant spot on its roster, the Miami Heat will try to re-sign point guard Rafer Alston, who was bought out by the New Jersey Nets today. Alston is a proven veteran that has played in Milwaukee, Toronto, Houston, Orlando, New Jersey and Miami. Alston was part of the 2009 Eastern Conference Champions Orlando Magic. Also, he was part of the exciting 03-04 Miami Heat squad that reached the playoffs in Dwyane Wade’s rookie season.

Alston was averaging 9.7 points, 3.9 assists and 2.3 turnovers for the Nets this season, but shooting just 34.3 percent from the field. For his career, Alston has averaged 10.3 points, 4.9 assists and 1.8 turnovers and shot 38.4 percent. Some believe Alston will start in Miami and have Mario Chalmers as his primary back-up. Alston can be expected to sign with Miami as early as Thursday because of the NBA rule 48-Hour waiver period. If that was the case, Alston could start as soon as Friday’s away game at Phoenix.

On another note, Carlos Arroyo could soon be gone as well. Miami has until tomorrow to decide whether they are going to retain Arroyo or if they will release him. I speculate that Miami will release Arroyo in order to try to get under the luxury tax threshold. Not only that, but there is no need to have three point guards in the roster. There is no way Chalmers is leaving so the only one that makes sense is Arroyo. Miami used him for almost half a season and now they release him.. Sounds good to me, I never really liked Carlos. (I know that will cause a ruckus between my readers that like Arroyo).

With the addition of Alston, the subtraction of Quinn and the potential subtraction of Arroyo, the Heat would be between $1 million and $2 million above the luxury tax threshold, which the Heat has been trying to get under.